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Healthcare utilization in Danish children with atopic dermatitis and parental topical corticosteroid phobia
Author(s) -
Gerner Trine,
Haugaard Jeanette Halskou,
Vestergaard Christian,
Deleuran Mette,
Jemec Gregor Borut,
Mortz Charlotte Gotthard,
Agner Tove,
Egeberg Alexander,
Skov Lone,
Thyssen Jacob P.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
pediatric allergy and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.269
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1399-3038
pISSN - 0905-6157
DOI - 10.1111/pai.13394
Subject(s) - medicine , atopic dermatitis , danish , health care , disease , corticosteroid , pediatrics , population , dermatology , philosophy , linguistics , environmental health , economics , economic growth
Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent relapsing inflammatory skin disease. There is currently little knowledge about healthcare utilization and medication use along with parental corticosteroid phobia in relation to severity of pediatric AD. Objectives To study the association between parental‐reported healthcare utilization, medication use, and topical corticosteroid phobia and pediatric AD severity. Methods The study population included all children in Denmark with a diagnostic code of AD (ICD‐10 code, group L20) given at a hospital department of dermatology between 2014 and 2018. A questionnaire containing 158 response items was sent to the legal parents. We surveyed disease severity, AD treatment, corticosteroid phobia, and healthcare use along with other variables. Disease severity was assessed using the Patient‐Oriented Eczema Measure tool, and corticosteroid phobia was assessed using the Topical Corticosteroid Phobia (TOPICOP) score. Results In total, 1343 (39%) parents completed the questionnaire and 95.3% were completed by the biological mother. Children's mean age was 8.9 ± 4.5 years, and 52.8% were boys. Severe AD was associated with a higher number of healthcare visits to GPs, private dermatologists, and hospital departments. Mean global TOPICOP score was 38.27 ± 19.9%. There was a significant inverse linear trend between global TOPICOP score and parental educational level ( P trend < .0005). Conclusions The significant association between high global TOPICOP score and low parental educational level, resulting in delayed treatment of AD flares, indicates that improved family education ultimately may reduce healthcare expenses and burden of disease.